Place Types

Eight Place Types were developed for the Wasatch Region based on characteristics like station context, land use, development pattern, and scale. The Place Types form the basis of the Template Code.

Using the Template Code Place Types

This document includes a wide range of Place Types, defined through the study of existing and proposed centers and transit stations within the Wasatch Region. Each center or corridor can be categorized into a Place Type that is based on station context. Characteristics such as land use, development pattern and intensity, scale, and type of transit all are considered when applying a Place Type. The Place Types are meant to guide the user to the appropriate form-based recommendations specifically developed for each kind of station context.

Choosing a Place Type

The Place Types serve as a framework for zoning districts, street and block definition, and open space. Identify the appropriate Place Type closest to the desired future for the place. Refer to the Place Type Summary Table at left for descriptions of all eight Template Code Place Types.

Centers, Neighborhoods, & Corridors

The Place Types are organized into three categories: Centers, Neighborhood, and Corridors.

Centers are those areas defined in the Wasatch Choice for 2040 process as centers of activity, whether on the regional, community, or neighborhood scale. Utilizing the WC 2040 plan, the Metropolitan Center, Urban Center, and Town Center Place Types were identified.

The Neighborhood Place Types consist mainly of residential with support retail and service uses. The Station Community, Urban Neighborhood, and Transit Neighborhood were defined to fulfill a variety of scales of mainly residentially focused Place Types, with the Station Community, identified in WC 2040, also providing the potential for employment uses.

The Corridor Place Types are more linear in nature than the Centers or Neighborhoods, and include the Boulevard Community and Main Street.

Components of Complete Places

The Template Code Place Types were developed to be complete places. When implemented, residents and visitors of these places will have access to basic goods and services that meet their daily needs, as well as a variety of housing types, open space, and transportation choices. The following components are reflected in the Template Code:

Mix of Land Uses

By providing a mix of uses, opportunities for retail, services, and offices can develop close to residential. Residents have the opportunity to live close to where they work and shop. This proximity means that residents are more likely to walk, take transit, or bike to their destinations.

Mix of Housing Types

In addition to a mix of uses, a mix of housing types is important to a complete neighborhood. A "lifecycle of housing" refers to the idea that residents can choose to age in place without leaving their neighborhood. A mix of townhomes, apartments, single family homes at varying densities are available for students, young professionals, families, and senior citizens. The Template Code promotes this idea by allowing multiple Building Types in all districts and providing guidelines on how district relationships interact with each other.

Transit Service

Transit service is an integral part of a complete neighborhood, be it bus, street car, light rail, or heavy rail. Transit oriented development is the concentration of residential, commercial, and office uses within a quarter to a half mile of a transit station. Within this radius, which is equivalent to about a ten minute walk, people are more likely to use the transit system and walk to destinations from the station. Close station spacing, like service with streetcars or trolleys, creates a more contiguous development, whereas commuter train service yields more nodal centers that step down radially. At the core of the development, commercial and residential density is higher and lowers further out of the center. The Template Code will encourage these kinds of densities within its districts.

Active Transportation Priorities

Designing streets for all users, not just cars, is known as designing for complete streets. Physically designing streets and infrastructure for active transportation makes residents and visitors feel safer when walking or biking and makes it more likely for them to do it. Streets should be designed to include both vehicular and comfortable pedestrian realms within the area's existing and proposed transportation system. Basic elements for pedestrian and biking infrastructure such as sidewalks, street trees, on-street parking to buffer pedestrians, crosswalks, and marked bicycle lanes or share lanes should be included in all locations.

Access to Open Space & Recreation Opportunities

It is important for neighborhood residents to have access to parks and other types of outdoor recreation. Residential units should be no more than a three and a half minute walk from an open space or park. This access provides people of all ages with recreation and exercise opportunities, and contributes to an over all high quality of life. The Template Code provides for a variety of open space types, which should be planned within the appropriate walking distances from all uses.

Universal Design

Universal design refers to principles that produce buildings and public spaces that are accessible to people of all ages and abilities, emphasizing equity and flexibility in use, especially the elderly and users with special needs. Universal design principles can be found in all sections of the Template Code.

Sustainable Infrastructure

A neighborhood's infrastructure plays an important role in its overall sustainability. Opportunities exist in features like streets, sidewalks, lighting, sewers, and stormwater collection to improve sustainability throughout a neighborhood through strategies like recycled material and water efficiency. The Template Code will provide for these kinds of occurrences.